Grading-machine.



T. P. STROUD. GRADING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1911. 1,101,766. Patented June so, 1914.

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T. F. STROUD.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1911.

Patented June 30, 1914.

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T. F. STROUD.

GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1911.

Patented June 30, 1914.

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GRADING-MACHINE.

Application filed September 28, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. Srnonn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grading- Maehines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to grading and excavating machinery and especially to grading machines of the class known as side-delivery plow, plow and carrier machines.

It is the object of my invention to provide in a machine of this class improved means for supporting the carrier-frame, for adjusting the position thereof relative to the main frame of the machine, and for varying the relation of its parts in order to tighten or loosen the carrier-belt.

Constructions embodying my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the frame of a grading machine of the class described, having myimproved carrier applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the plane of the line wa3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of portions of the adjoining ends of the carrier frame-sections, and Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of a part of the adpustmg dev1ces,.

the view being taken from the plane of the line y-y of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention the main part of the grading or excavating machine may be of the same construction as is ordinarily employed in machines of this class. In order to illustrate the relations of my improved parts to the rest of the machine, I have shown in the drawings amain frame 1 provided with front and rear wheels 2 and 3; a plow 4 and a plow-beam 5 arranged at one side of the frame; and hoisting mechanism comprising hand-wheels 6 and cables 7 for raising and lowering the plow. It will be understood that all of these parts are of ordinary construction and arrangement; that the machine is to be provided with suitable draft devices; and that the belt of the elevating carrier may be driven in any suitable manner, as from the wheels of the machine by connecting driving mechanism such as is usually employed in machines of this kind.

Secured at one side of the main frame 1 are uprights 8 with which are connected the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 38, P314.

Serial No. 651,841.

brace-bars 9 and stay-plates 10, and between which the elevating carrier extends, as shown. The carrier comprises an upper frame-sectionll and a lower frame-section 12, upon which are mounted the rollers around and over which the endless carrierbelt 13 is passed. The frame-sections are each, independently of the other, supported from and adjustable relative to the main frame of the machine. The lower end of the section 12 is adjustably supported by means of flexible connections 14 which extend from the sides of the frame to the shaft 15. The shaft 15 is journaled in suitable bearings disposed on the brace-bars 9, and is provided with a hand-Wheel 16 by which it may be turned to wrap the connections 14 around the shaft. The upper end of the frame-section 12 is carried by rack-bars 17 which are pivotally connected therewith and extend upward to engage pinions carried on the shaft 18. The said shaft 18 may be turned to raise and lower the rack-bars by applying thereto a removable crank, a notched wheel 19 and a. dog 20 being provided to retain the shaft in the position to which it is turned. The position of the frame-section 12 transversely of the main frame 1 is variable by means of a longitudinal shaft 21 on which are short cranks connected by rods 22 with the frame 12, the shaft having at its rearward end an upwardly extending handle 23 by which it may be turned, and a notched arm 24 being provided for holding the handle at various positions.

The inner or lower end of the carrier frame-section 11 is supported by rack-bars 25 which are pivotally connected therewith and extend upwardly to engage pinions carried on the shaft 26. The said shaft, like the shaft 18, is turned by applying a removable crank thereto, and is provided with a notched wheel 27 and dog for retaining the shaft in the positions to which it is turned. The outer or upper end of the frame-section 11 is adjustably supported by means of flexible connections 28 which are connected with the uprights 8, pass around pulleys 29 connected with the frame-section, thence over pulleys 30 carried at the top of the uprights 8, and thence extend to the shaft 32 which is journaled similarly to the shaft 15 and is provided with a hand-wheel 33 by which it may be turned to wind the connections '28 around it.

On the uprights 8 near the lower ends thereof are secured plates 34 which extend outwardly therefrom adjacent to the sides of the carrier-frame and have vertically extending slots and a series of holes 36- are pinions 39 which mesh with racks 40 secured on the lower edges of the side pieces of the carrier framesection 11. U-shaped guide-bars 41 are secured to the side pieces of the frame section and extend below the shaft 37 to retain the same in a position such as to hold the pinions and racks in mesh with each other. Adjoining the outer sides of the plates 34 bars 42 are connected with the shaft 37 and extend outwardly and upwardly therefrom. At the outer end of each of the bars 42 is a bolt 43 which may be passed through one of a series of holes 44 made in the side pieces of the frame-section, as shown.

It will be apparent, from the manner in which the frame section is supported, that the same will tend to swing in beneath the main frame 1. It will also be apparent that 1 while the outer ends of the bars 42 are connected with the frame 11 the inward thrust of said frame-section will be received by said bars, transmitted through them to the shaft 37, and thence received upon the inner edges of the slots 35 in the plates 34.

Vhile the inward thrust of the frame-section is so received its vertical position at main frame, the bolts 43 are removed from the holes 44, the shaft 37 is turned until, by the action of the pinions 39 and racks 40,

the fra1ne-section has been moved sufficiently in the direction desired to enable the bolts 43 to be passed through another set of the holes 44, and the bolts are then passed through the holes to retain the frame at the desired position. If it is desired to make a substantially permanent adjustment both of the transverse position of the frame-section and the vertical position of the lower .or inner end thereof, the same may be'done by bringing into coincidence at each side of the frame-section one of the holes 36 in the plate 34 and one of a series of holes 45 which are made in the side piece of the frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and then passing bolts through the coinciding holes. A simple pivotal connection is thus formed between the inner end of the framesection 11 and the main frame 1, it being possible to raise and lower the outer end of the section without substantially changing the position of the inner end thereof.

It may be noted that in the practical operation of a grading machine provided with my improved elevating carrier, the upper frame-section of the carrier would be adjusted transversely of the machine to compensate for permanent stretching or elongation of the carrier-belt, while changes would be made in the transverse position of the lower frame-section to secure desired variations in the belt tension while the machine is in operation.

Now, having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

1.. 111 a grading machine, a main frame, an inclined elevating carrier comprising a continuous belt and two separate framesections, means for adjustably supporting the lower frame-section, means for raising and lowering each end of the upper frame-section, vertically-slotted plates carried by the main frame, a shaft extending through the slots in said plates, pinions secured on said shaft,

racks carried on the upper frame section and meshing with said pinions, guiding means carried by said frame-section and engaging the shaft to holdthe racks and pinions in mesh, bars connected with the shaft adjoining the slotted plates, and means for connecting the said bars in varying relations to the upper frame-section.

2. In'a grading machine, a main frame, an elevating carrier-frame extending laterally from the ,main frame, parallel vertically-slotted plates secured to the main frame adjoining the sides of the inner end of the carrier-frame, a shaft extending through the slots in said plates and below the carrierframe, pinions secured on said shaft, racks secured to the carrier-frame and meshing with said pinions, means swingably supporting the carrier-frame upon the main frame, means for turning the shaft to move the carrier-frame laterally to the main frame, and means for retaining the carrierframe in various positions relative to the shaft.

' 3. In a grading machine, a main frame, a transverse carrier-frame extending laterally from the main frame, means for adjustably supporting the outer end of the carrierframe, supporting means pivotally connected with the inner end of the carrier-frame, means for adjusting said supporting means vertically on the main frame, a horizontal shaft, guides for holding said shaft in vertically slidable relation tothe main frame, rigid members connected at one end to said shaft, means for connecting the opposite ends of said members in varying longitudinal relations to the carrier frame, and connectmg means for retalning saidshaft and the carrier-frame in fixed vertical relation to each other.

4. In a grading machine, a main frame, a carrier-frame extending at one side beyond 5 the main frame, adjustable supporting means connecting each end of the carrier-frame With the main frame, whereby said ends of the carrier-frame may be independently varied in their vertical relation to the main frame, a horizontal shaft, means retaining said shaft in vertically slidable relation to the main frame, rigid members connected at one end of said shaft, means for connecting the opposite ends of said members in varying longitudinal relations to the carrierframe, longitudinally extending racks on the carrier-frame, pinions on the shaft and engaging said racks, and means for retaining said racks and pinions in operative relation to each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

T. F. STROUD.

Witnesses:

E. HUNT, D. O. BARNELL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at Patents.

Washington, D. G." 

